Salvador J. Lara

Wounded, he stormed German guns and kept the advance moving.

Salvador J. Lara came from Riverside, California, and served in the United States Army during the Second World War. As a private first class with the 45th Infantry Division, he fought in Italy during the advance from the Anzio area toward Rome.

On 27 May 1944, near Aprilia, Lara and three companions attacked enemy positions, killing four Germans and capturing fifteen while forcing mortar crews from their weapons. The next morning he suffered a serious leg wound. Despite his injury, he asked to attack a machine gun that was inflicting casualties on his company.

Armed with a Browning Automatic Rifle, he crawled forward and charged the position, killing its crew. He attacked another position and forced additional crews to abandon their weapons. His determination helped the American advance and earned the Distinguished Service Cross.

Lara survived the fighting in Italy and later served with the 602nd Ordnance Armament Maintenance Battalion. He died on 1 September 1945 and is buried at Lorraine American Cemetery in France. Following a review of minority veterans' awards, his Distinguished Service Cross was upgraded to the Medal of Honor on 18 March 2014.

Medal of Honor citation (official excerpt)

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty…

Official citation: https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/salvador-j-lara